[Roberto]

@asp Hi – I sympathise with your plight , being stuck somewhere is no fun especially with two nippers and a life thousands of miles away.

Yes you need to keep chasing OTB and Emirates but whatever happens youre definitely gonna be stuck there for a while longer yet. Thats the first thing you need to get your head around – its a massive pain but there are no flights and where there are its going to be a mad scramble so assume you wont be at the front of the queue.

Howlong? Well thats the million dollar question but of you assume maybe at least a week and possibly three that might allow you to put some life plans in place.

You can only control what you can control , focus on that and the needs of your family and leave all the other stuff behind. If youre running out of cash speak to your friends and family , keep your hotel room(s) and ensure your bags are packed and your phone is on (and roaming).

All the best..

[Roberto]

Hello from breakfast on the beach in Langwaki. We were in KL when the balloon went up and it looks like its effecting a few people here that had connecting flights via the ME.

There are a couple of stayer-ons and news of others that left here are are stranded in the ME and some in Singapore waiting for flights.

The Ba direct flights appear to have been unaffected and are now flying over Afghanistan so it looks like we will be OK assuming it does not kick off any further.

Langwaki appears to be unchanged in the last seven years since we were last here. From the little we have seen in the fifteen hours since we have arrived its still a beautiful island.

Dinner at a local Indian restaurant on the beach and we had some amazing food for about a fiver between us. Certainly went to bed stuffed.

All the best for those affected by the travel carnage.

[Roberto]

Working in Malaysia today

[Roberto]

Richie wrote:

But can a fully loaded B787-10 fly as far as Bangkok?

I dont think that distance is an issue. The bigger problem with 787 is taking off when its really hot. But does BKK get to 40°?

[Roberto]

@polly the flight out to KUL was ok – I did notice one guy change his headset twice but SWMBO and I never used ours so I can’t comment.

I did use the free executive club messenger and that worked fine so unsure what the issue might be.

We arrived about 10 mins late and had to wait 20 mins for bags but made it into the Shangri La by 7pm. Just had a few drinks and shared a satay and noodles before wandering upstairs at 10:15 local for a shower and an early night. Tomorrow will be catching our breath, a couple of hours by the pool and out for (Michelin stared) clay pot chicken for lunch.

Have a safe trip back to Blighty.

[Roberto]

yorkshireRich wrote:

we met some friends there last year so without staying, we have been to the Casa Del Mar.
The wife said it was in a much better location to where we stayed, which was the Westin.

Yes, I agree – its a great (adult only) hotel, prehaps in need of a little refresh (stuff like no usb chargers) but in a super position on a great beach. The staff do go the extra mile and we have enjoyed a few previous stays – the last was in 2019.

Highly reccomended and at circa £200 a night its a fair chunk of money in an area where some rooms are available for 10% of that but by UK standards its cheap as chips for what you get.

[Roberto]

Hey @polly . Its 8am here in sunny Essex and just starting to think about packing. The bags are in the garage and I will get them out at 1pm after I come back from the recycling center. (Its all good high quality content here).

Will uber to Brentwood station about 4:30 and rock up at the First Wing sixish in readiness for our 8:35pm flight tonight. You should have sorted out your seats by then I hope.

And you asked where we are staying in Penang. Well we are not this time , just a day trip from Langwaki. My wife is an army brat and lived in Penang 60 odd years ago when her father was stationed there. We normally stay at the E&O as its where she actually went to play group (in the bar) so has a connection to the island/hotel. Its a beautiful hotel, we always try to nab a top floor corner sea veiw room in the new part.

Its just a 20 min (air asia) hop over from Langwaki and will be on the island for half a day. Gonna grab a grab and scoot over to Georgetown for a wander and a cocktail at the bar before back to Casa Del Mar in Langwaki intime for happy hour.

[Roberto]

@polly – I will be on your plane, not your flight, I will be getting off as you get on!!

I really hope you get your seats sorted. We will be getting out of 7 A/B and looking forward to our usual stay at the Shangri La for a few days before going to Langwaki & Penang for some much need rest and relaxation. Back mid March 😀

[Roberto]

Maldives flights are not always the easiest flights to get as a reward booking. As you have a fixed cruise your not as flexible with regards to dates so you might struggle.

Yes. You can phone at midnight to nab those seats but if youre 30 seconds late they will have gone and that means another night in the Maldives at whatever extortionate price the resort is so be aware.

In staying that I have bagged reward seats in both club and PE to/from Male but its always with flexible travel dates in mind.

Getting the Dubia flights is a little easier, there is often 2 flights a day and the demand (IMHO) is slightly less than Male so nabbing them online at the stroke of midnight is very possible.

I looked on SeatSpy and there is currently just 1 day in the next 355 days where there is a pair of seats to Male and zero days where there is a return.

[Roberto]

watermelonsocks wrote:

Has there been any message on AMEX/BA repeating this offer this year? I haven’t seen anything anywhere.

Yes, a kind of open ended statement outlining that tier points will be earned as a byproduct of using the card and that it will be introduced sometime after April 2026.

[Roberto]

After a few too many drinks on Valentines night I kinda passed out before getting around to booking flights to Sydney for the 4th of Feb next year for a wedding down under.

But bagged the unicorn last night at midnight and now going on the 5th. No idea how we are getting back, I will figure that out another day.

[Roberto]

Had this today after Ba cancelled my LCY to AGP flight on the 9th July. I chose the go a day earlier on the 8th rather than an early flight on the 9th – Anyways I could not rebook my new seats when logged in.

Just went the the Ba MMB and was able to swap there. Logged back in and was sorted.

[Roberto]

If you enjoy walking hand in hand, quaint beaches, ice cream cones, nice pubs and something a little different then Jersey might be for you. I have been a few time staying in 4 different locations and always had a great trip.

Get a car and scoot around the island. There is plenty to see and do for a short trip. I can reccomend Langueville Manor Hotel if youre happy to spend a little more. Its a little off location for walking although its not too far from the seafront but comfortable and somewhere I would happily return. Other than that look at the Raddison Blu in St Helier, a little bland but if youre looking at location its pretty much perfect. The Grand Hotel is prehaps a little less grand than its once was but again somewhere I would revisit. Buses and taxis are plentiful if you dont want a car, there are plenty of excursions around if you prefer.

No agro at customs, 40 mins from London and some lovely places to explore.

[Roberto]

Great thread..

We off to Gibraltar for a few days to visit our son next week and meeting him and some chums again over easter and July both in the Malaga area. We lived in Spain for the last 20 years only moving back to Blighty recently.

Other trips include KL and Langwaki for three weeks in Feb/March , a Fjord cruise in May and three weeks in Barbados in November.

Also planning a couple of Euro flits for a few days at a time – those TBA and Melbourne for our neices wedding Feb 2027.

Not as busy as we normally are but slowing down as we get older plus have a Flat to refurbish and a garden project on another property (up North) which will both be expensive and time consuming.

Love reading other people’s plans , I wish I still have the enthusiasm and planning patience of some on here.

[Roberto]

I would call. Its Christmas time and people are filled with the seasons joy and I would hope they just do it. I have done the same and they did it for me.

If not, well youre no worse off and if push comes to shove you will (a) have to pay something or (b) cancel and rebook hoping the seats slot back into inventory.

[Roberto]

Our last Singapore flight was parked on a remote stand and went from A10. So just be aware if youre expecting a B or C gate and in the B lounge it won’t even display on the timing screens.

Add to that you will have to walk back through the tunnels to the A gates if thats the case. Its a 12 to 15 min walk.

[Roberto]

No, not had a reply and not really expecting one. I assume that come the 30th of November I am going to get switched off.

I also assume that the balance due back on my annual metal fee is lost.

Its been a journey with curve but as with all good things it will end.

[Roberto]

Nothing lasts forever…

[Roberto]

I flew to MEL a couple of years ago on Malaysian Airlines from KL (and have the same award trip booked for March 2026) so that is also something you could consider if youre looking at burning avios.

[Roberto]

I and P2 have been blocked from the referral programme for some while (maybe 2+yrs) presumably for cross referrals but this thread prompted me to look and it appears I am off the naughty step.

I have kept the link safe to use in the future but seem to recall that they will just 404 the redirect if they block me again.

[Roberto]

Offed nothing – I was on chat looking at either getting an offer or cancelling to start the 24 month cycle on player 2.

Was just yada yada and canceled. Not like the good old days but hey ho.

[Roberto]

In today’s world of dynamic pricing and the dearth of Barbados availability on Virgin those 180k miles probably would have not been enough anyways.

I have never had any miles expire on me as I know the rules and would have ensured I did whats necessary to keep them alive however I have some sympathy with the OP.

Congratulations on your up and coming milestone. Time served.

[Roberto]

A couple of extra things to add for anybody considering the PCH

When driving north to south the sun is generally not in your eyes and you have the better views from that lane as opposed the south to north option.

[Roberto]

Getting this again , been the last few days – anybody else having issues paying online?

[Roberto]

It will be back worry not…